One of the newest scientific works that has been publicized in mass for the last several years is the research with stem cells; stem cell research while still in an early stage has caused world wide conflict. Although it has been going on for decades this research has just as of late become a popular topic of debate. One of the major reasons for this is that scientists have just recently been using embryonic stem cells. Their goal in the use of the embryonic stem cells is to promote the growth of decaying or otherwise damaged parts of the human body. For example, at the University of Wisconsin researchers induce heart attacks in rats, then using stem cells from embryos and umbilical cords they attempt to repair the heart, it has been successful thus far but it is far from legal or practical at this point to perform any similar operations on human beings.

Although the medical field at large has no problem with embryonic stem cell research many persons of faith detest it as an abomination of gods plan. And in many ways we are in fact playing god, most of the cells used in embryonic research comes from aborted babies. Now in light of this fact many people think that some women with lower morals, or different morals then themselves would have abortion, after abortion just to sell the cells from there under developed child to research or even in the future to hospitals. While it is a very real possibility my question is, if the statistics are great enough for the use of embryonic stem cells to be outlawed, and if that fact is so can a religious group determine weather or not scientists may use the tools given to them? Can they dictate how private companies use them? If so I wonder if we are really as free as our constitution leads us to believe; now I in no way shape or forum agree with the concept or the morality behind abortion it is just my opinion that we can not link these two things together. There are other ways to get embryonic stem cells, and furthermore last time I checked abortion was completely legal. Now if we are to say that it is unlawful to give aborted babies stem cells to research it is in the same context saying that we should not donate the organs of the dead. While I realize whole heartedly that the same religious groups that rally against embryonic stem cell research also are against abortion, we as a people must look out for the best interest of all of our people and not of a few “concerned citizens”